West coast trip LV, LA, SD - ideas tips!

[400ixl]

Death Valley is worth a visit. I saw Valley of Fire and Red Rock Canyon also mentioned. I'd only do one of them as they are all similar.

Red rock is small but close and can be done in a few hours. VoF Is a half day and can be combined with Lake Mead. Death Valley needs a full day minimum, and can justify 2 with a stopover.

[stanleycamel]

Another vote for Death Valley - 2 hour drive from LV via I95 and you can get to see the main sites of Badwater, Dante's View (my favourite place in the park), Artists Drive, Badwater and a visit to the National Park Ranger station for the selfie in from of the thermometer.

If you pass by Amargosa Opera House in Death Valley junction its worth a look in - I met Marta Becket once many years ago - batty as a fruit cake but a lovel lady with some great stories. The inside of the Opera House is featured on Lighthouse Family video of Lifted along with some scenes shot in DV too.

Drive back via Pahrump - just don't expect to get any chicken at Chicken Ranch of a cup of coffee at Sheri's

Edited to read - I have never visited either of the Pahrump establishments - google them and I think you will work out why.

[buryboy]

Originally Posted by 400ixl

Death Valley is worth a visit. I saw Valley of Fire and Red Rock Canyon also mentioned. I'd only do one of them as they are all similar.

Red rock is small but close and can be done in a few hours. VoF Is a half day and can be combined with Lake Mead. Death Valley needs a full day minimum, and can justify 2 with a stopover.

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Sorry to hijack this thread
We have done Vegas before , and did red rock canyon but not valley of fire.
I have a trip in the very early planning stages that involves flying into Vegas, then driving through Death Valley , to bishop and on to Yosemite .
Likely to be August .
I had planned to maybe do valley of fire / lake mead for a day
Then the next day do the drive from Vegas to bishop via Death Valley .

You have now got me thinking it might be worth dumping valley of fire ( If it is similar to DV which I hadn’t read beforehand) and instead taking two days to drive to bishop , taking more time to explore Death Valley ?

Is this sensible ?
Where would you stop overnight ?

[400ixl]

Where to stay depends on what time of year and what level of luxury you want. We like Panamint Springs but it's no more than a motel at best. It's the location we like.

One of the places we like in Death Valley that many don't know about or stop at is Darwin. It's a near abandoned ghost town that was originally a mining town. If you like photography and places like that it's one not to miss.

LV to Bishop with doing DV any justice is going to be a 12 hour day at least.

[buryboy]

Originally Posted by 400ixl

Where to stay depends on what time of year and what level of luxury you want. We like Panamint Springs but it's no more than a motel at best. It's the location we like.

One of the places we like in Death Valley that many don't know about or stop at is Darwin. It's a near abandoned ghost town that was originally a mining town. If you like photography and places like that it's one not to miss.

LV to Bishop with doing DV any justice is going to be a 12 hour day at least.

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Thanks a lot . I don’t do luxury so that sounds perfect .
So you would definitely recommend ignoring valley of fire and taking two days to get from Vegas to Bishop ?

As said almost certain to be August . Unless my missus quits her job in a school before then in which case June or July

[400ixl]

Valley of Fire is very nice and worth a visit. It can be done in half a day.

You will get to see.similar scenery in Death Valley.

I would get views from others as my mind is split.

[dexdis]

Some views o death valley, I would recommend the devils hold course too, just for the sheer desolation of the valley, but again if you go in August ensure you take plenty of water.

[dave]

Ok thanks all I will take a look and plan accordingly 👍